Police Officer Jailed For Misconduct

A former Thames Valley police constable has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of misconduct in public office.

Martin McElvenna, 54, of Wills Walk in Northampton, was convicted by a jury on 31 July at Southwark Crown Court following a nine-week trial.

In September 2013, McElvenna was working as a PC in Milton Keynes. He accessed the Police National Computer (PNC) in order to assist in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the UK.

He was found not guilty on two separate counts of misconduct in public office and the jury failed to reach a decision on a third.

McElvenna was dismissed from Thames Valley Police in November 2013, following a misconduct hearing.

He was today sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Deputy Chief Constable Francis Habgood said: "Martin McElvenna was convicted earlier this year of one count of misconduct in public office after he accessed the Police National Computer in order to assist in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the UK.

This abuse of position was completely unacceptable and so we fully accept the decision of the judge made today.

It is imperative that the public has complete trust in the police and so we hope this investigation shows that we will always investigate any accusations of wrongdoing and will always take seriously the behaviour of our officers, whether they are on or off duty."